AYRSHIRE & RABBIE BURNS COUNTRY EXPLORER PRIVATE TOUR FROM GLASGOW

Ayrshire & Rabbie Burns Country Explorer Private Tour from Glasgow2023-09-25T11:53:47+00:00

Take a day out of Glasgow and travel to the sleepy agricultural Ayrshire region. Explore Alloway, the Birthplace of Rabbie Burns, Scotland’s National poet and take in the open seascapes across the Firth of Clyde to Ailsa Craig.

Visit Culzean Castle estate, with its grand clifftop castle rising above the woods, beaches, secret follies and parks before enjoying the coastal route back to Glasgow with great views of the Clyde coast.

Each private tour is conducted in our premium Mercedes minivans, ensuring your comfort as we venture along the narrow roads of Scotland.

Your knowledgable kilt-wearing private tour guide will tell you the stories and show you the sights on this tour. We offer flexibility and your time inside and outside the vehicle is up to you.

Searching Availability...

Tour duration
1 day (9am – 5pm)

Book direct for the best rate
You won’t find a better rate for our tours

We pick you up
We’ll collect & return you from your Glasgow hotel, Greenock cruise port or Glasgow Airport

Instant confirmation
Receipt for your booking immediately

Inclusions:

Exclusions:

  • Lunch (we can recommend a place)
  • Entrance into attractions & sites
  • Gratuities (optional)
KEY SIGHTS ON THIS TOUR…

Alloway & Rabbie Burns Museum

Situated in the village of Alloway just outside Ayr is the place that Robert Burns was born in 1759 into a simple farming life. His parents aspired to more and insisted Rabbie was well educated. He lived a full life with a love for poetry, woman and Scotland and his works lead to international acclaim and him becoming the national bird of Scotland. He is still as culturally significant today as he was in his time and Scotland celebrates Burns Night annually on the 25th of January with a traditional meal of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties!

Learn about Burns’ life and times at this fantastic Robert Burns museum and visit the cottage that his father built and where he was born.

Culzean Castle

Acclaimed Georgian architect Robert Adam’s cliff-top masterpiece sits on the Clyde coast a short distance south of Ayr. Completed in 1792 the palatial house was built for David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis who wanted a country retreat and playground for him and his guests. Adam didn’t disappoint and today we can visit this jewel in the crown of southwest Scotland.

We’ll visit the palatial mansion house and also explore its extensive grounds complete with follies, country park and walled garden.

Turnberry Castle

Built in the 13th century, Turnberry Castle occupies a rocky spit of land and can be accessed only by crossing the adjacent Golf course. A once  impressive courtyard castle only the inner keep and sea gate remains and at low tide it is possible to walk out onto the rocks to see the walls.

Turnberry was a home of the Earls of Carrick. In 1271, Marjorie, Countess of Carrick married Robert de Bruce of Annandale. Their eldest son was to born here in 1274 and he went onto become King Robert The Bruce. After his coronation and exile in 1306, Bruce returned to Scotland a year later, landing at his former home Turnberry, by then occupied by the English. He didn’t succeed in taking it, but forced the garrison to abandon the castle. The castle does not feature again in official records, so we don’t know its subsequent history other than it had fallen into ruin by the 1700s.

Turnberry Lighthouse

Next door to the castle is Turnberry Lighthouse standing at 24 metres high. Commissioned by the Northern Lighthouse Board in 1877,  The initial plan to erect the lighthouse on the Bristo Rock it serves to warn ships about. The plan was deemed too dangerous so instead Turnberry Point was chosen. The foundations of the lighthouse stand in the moat of Turnberry Castle.

The lighthouse entered service on 30 August 1878 flashing once every 12 seconds. As part of the lighthouse modernisation programme in 1986 Turnberry Lighthouse was automated. Today it serves as a ‘half way house’ for golfers on Turnberry’s iconic King Robert The Bruce course.

The Lighthouse offers fantastic views across the Firth of Clyde as it enters the Irish Sea. On a clear day we can see Ailsa Craig, a volcanic plug that dominates the horizon.

Please note that access to Turnberry Castle & Lighthouse requires a 15 minute walk each way.

Coastal Drive

As we leave Turnberry we’ll travel north along the coastal road towards Gourock. We’ll see the islands of Arran, Milport and Bute as we travel up river. We’ll see the Cloch lighthouse that is the official end of the speed limit for Nuclear Submarines as they leave Faslane submarine base.

Lyle Hill

From Lyle Point in Gourock you get fantastic panoramic views across the Firth of Clyde towards Argyll. This region is closely connected to shipping and the River Clyde was critical in the building of ships for the British Empire and Allied efforts in both world wars. Today we can still see the legacy of that effort with ship yards and shipping including Greenock Cruise Terminal nearby.

In the distance is the wreck of ‘The Sugar Boat’ which serves as a reminder to the towns strong connection to Tate & Lyle Sugar refiners, founded by Abram Lyle to whom this lookout point is named.

We then drive the short distance back to Glasgow and return to your accommodation.

SUGGESTED TOUR ROUTE…

Each tour we operate is unique and designed to your requirements. Here is an example of this tour’s route

March 22, 2021 10:48 pm
  • Distance Instructions
Label
  • Distance 149 miles
  • Time 4 h 37 min
  • Speed 32 mph
  • Min altitude 0 ft
  • Peak 0 ft
  • Climb 0 ft
  • Descent 0 ft

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

These are some of the frequently asked questions about our Ayrshire & Rabbie Burns Country Explorer Private Tour from Glasgow, however if you have a specific question please contact us

Can I customise the tour?2022-11-15T14:41:55+00:00

Yes, we can customise any itinerary. We’ll email you shortly after booking to ask if you have any customisation requests and suggest additions you may wish to make.

Can the tour start at the airport / cruise port2022-11-15T14:41:55+00:00

Yes, we regularly pick up guests from the airport or cruise port. Read more about shore excursions from cruise ships

Do I need to bring anything with me?2022-11-15T14:45:22+00:00

We recommend bringing a jacket (even if the forecast is good!) and comfortable shoes. We’ll provide everything else including umbrellas, binoculars refreshments and a wee treat or two!

Do you provide car seats for children?2022-11-15T14:41:55+00:00

Yes, by law children under 135cm (4.4 foot) must travel in a booster seat. We can also provide baby seats. Please advise us if you need this.

How do I pay for the tour2022-11-15T14:42:58+00:00

When you book you pay a 20% deposit. The final payment is due on the date of departure and is taken from your card automatically. We don’t accept cash for your tour payment.

I need to change my tour date2022-11-15T14:41:55+00:00

No problem, as long as we have availability we can change the tour date. The deposit is transferable to your new date

What about ‘comfort stops’2022-11-15T14:41:55+00:00

There are plenty of toilet opportunities! Each of our tours is designed to have regular breaks and tour guide can accommodate most requests for bathroom stops.

What about lunch on tour2022-11-15T14:41:55+00:00

Scotland is full of amazing places to eat and we’ll recommend stops that champion the best in Scottish quality and make the most of your time.

What is the maximum number of guests2022-11-15T14:41:56+00:00

We have two versions of our minivan; either 6 or 7 passengers. Find out more about our premium minivans

Where do I meet the tour2022-11-15T14:41:56+00:00

We pick you up from your hotel or accommodation. In some instances parking in the city centre is restricted so there might be a short walk to your vehicle, but your guide will walk with you to the vehicle.

ALL OF OUR TOURS COME COMPLETE WITH…

KILT WEARING TOUR GUIDE

We are passionate, professional and full of personality. Let us share our knowledge of Scotland

HOTEL / CRUISE BERTH PICK UP

We’ll collect & return you at the start and end of the tour

BOTTLED SCOTTISH WATER

`Chilled, premium still and sparkling Scottish water is provided

PREMIUM MERCEDES MINIVAN

Our minivans offer luxury interiors and excellent legroom for up to 7 guests and their bags

ONBOARD WIFI

Stay connected to friends and family on tour with unlimited super-fast wifi

RECENT CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

  • Thomas W

    Guide picked us up and dropped us off on time (very important since we were coming from a cruise ship) and was very friendly and knowledgeable. Drove us to all the key points of interest, and the van was very clean and comfortable. Communication from [...]

    Published On: October, 2023
  • T Miller

    From the moment Sandy picked us up, we knew we were in for a wonderful day trip experience around Edinburgh. His historical knowledge of the city and surrounding area is top notch! He tailored our day to take in some hidden gems and provided us [...]

    Published On: October, 2023
  • Annemarie D

    We had so much fun with Andy! He was a pleasure to spend an afternoon with. We visited Rosslyn Chapel and some other places that were in keeping with our interests, like the oldest pub in Scotland (I know, many make the claim, but I'm [...]

    Published On: September, 2023
  • Mary Carol S

    Fantastic day with Michael! Great views of Loch Lamond. A nice hike and lunch there as well. Michael was really informative about Sterling Castle and all of Glasgow. I would highly recommend this tour and Michael.

    Published On: September, 2023
Go to Top